Govt urged to create scope for marginal farmers

from The New Nation

Fair trade, an economic partnership based upon dialogue, transparency and respect that aim for greater equity in international trade, is practised in Europe. But in Least Developed Countries like Bangladesh these are absent due to unknown reasons.

Moreover, in Bangladesh, the rights of producers and workers are not guaranteed.

In some 32 Least Developed Countries (LDC) out of 149 there is no social clause or labour standards.

This was said at the inauguration of two-day workshop on 'Steps Forward to Fair Trade' organised by Ecota Fair Trade Ltd at Asia Pacific Blossom Hotel in the city yesterday.

Malama Meleisea, Director of UNESCO Bangladesh, presided over the inaugural session, while Laura Giani, Country Representative of Terre des Homes (Tdh) of Italy, Arshad Siddiqui, Director of Ecota, among others, spoke on the occasion.

Speakers urged the government to create opportunities for the economically disadvantaged producers.

The government should work for the capacity building of the grassroots level workers. This must be accountable to all, its trading partners, stakeholders and should maintain confidentiality of commercial information supply, they said.

The government should help to promote fair trade so that this standard endeavours raises awareness among all and achieve greater justice for them, they urged.

One quarter of the world's population lives in abject poverty. Many of them are poor farmers and plantation workers producing basic commodities like corn, rice and coffee. These people work very hard, but they cannot get fair price for what they produce. For this reason, ensuring fair trade policy is very necessary for countries like Bangladesh, said speakers.

Values and preservation of traditional culture, generating fair income for thousands of artisans, educating consumers about trade and culture and promoting people-to-people ties among artisans, traders and consumers are main benefits of the fair trade. "If we can ensure these benefits in the country, producers will get real price," said one of the speakers.

"In developing countries fair trade is becoming popular and increasing day by day. So why we could not apply it in our country?" he questioned.